Miriam Yalan-Shteklis (1900-1984) (Hebrew: מרים ילן-שטקליס) was an Israeli writer and poetess from Jerusalem famous for her children’s books. She was a laureate of the Israel Prize. Her surname, Yalan, came from abbreviation of he father’s first name: Yehuda Leib Nissan Vilensky.
She was born in Kremenchug in 1900. Miriam was a daughter of a Zionist leader who was a descendant of a long line of rabbis, learned Hebrew as a small child. After the failed Russian Revolution of 1905, the family traveled from one place to another: Berlin, Minsk, Petrograd, and Kharkov. Miriam Yalan-Stekelis studied Humanities at the University of Kharkov, continued at the College of Judaic Studies in Berlin and in 1928 she studied Library Science in Paris. In 1920 she settled in Jerusalem and after returning from her studies in France in 1929, she joined the National University Library. She spent the next 30 years as director of the Slavic department. She won the Israel Prize in 1956 for her outstanding contribution to Israeli children's literature. Miriam Yalan-Shteklis died at the age of 84.
According to her words, "poems come from her suffering soul and poems are born like children in sufferings". She became an orphan early and all her life she spent in isolation and sadness. Having no children of her own, Miriam Yalan-Shteklis found herself in composing poems for other children. As a result, she amused her audience with a deep understanding of children’s worries, fears and experiences.
The poetess had written several children’s books as Dani, Journey to the Island “Ulai” etc. These books include stories such as I have a secret, In my dream etc. Many of her poems became a significant part of Israeli cultural heritage and were put into lyrics of children’s songs. In 1975 Shmulik Kraus and Jozy Katz dedicated a show to the album of her songs.
Children Hurry, Hurry Dwarfs!, 1939 [Atzu Ratzu Gamadim] Danny, 1943 [Danny] Rain, 1944 [Geshem] Tol-Tol and His Sand, 1944 [Tol-Tol Ba'al Ha-Hol] The Journey to the Maybe Island, 1944 [Ha-Masah La Ee Ulai] The Girl Millik and Aunt Phillik, 1945 [Ma'ase Ba-Yaldah Millik U Ba-Doda Phillik] Once There Was a Girl, 1946 [Ma'aseh Be-Yaldah] How Songs Come to the Heart, 1947 [Eich Ba'im Shirim Le-Lev Ha-Adam] The Story of a Curtain, Paris, 1952 [Ma'aseh Be-Parochet] Bimmi, 1953 [Bimmi] Birthday, Dvir, 1962 [Yom Huledet] Wheels, Hadar 1957 [Galgalim] Kid's Song, Dvir, 1958-63 [Shir Ha-Gdi] I Have a Secret, Dvir, 1958-63 [Yesh Li Sod] In My Dream, Dvir, 1958-63 [Be-Halomi] Lies?, Ekked, 1966 [Sheker?] Two Legends, Dvir, 1972 [Shtei Agadot] Brave Danny and Other Poems, 1975 [Danny Gibor Ve-Shirim Aherim] A Paper Bridge, 1978 [Gesher Shel Niyar] Life and Words, Kiryat Sefer, 1978 [Hayim Ve-Milim]